1G (1981–1991 — the first generation)

• Calls only
• Analogue audio
• The Brick -> Motorola DynaTAC 8000X

2G (1990-2000 GSM — Global System for Mobile Communications)

• Mass consumer product
• Data services
• 1992 - SMS
• 1994 - Smartphone -> IBM Simon
• 1996 - Pocket computer -> Nokia 9000 Communicator
• 1997 - Keitai
• 1999 - i-mode (Japan), BlackBerry
• 2000 - Camera phone -> Sharp J-SH04

3G (2001-2008 - Mobile data)

• Mobile web browsing
• Email
• Photo sharing
• Music downloads
• Video calling
• Streaming media
• 2002 - Sidekick
• 2004 - Motorola RAZR V3 (PINK RAZR) / BBM
• 2007 - iPhone
• 2008 - App Store, Android (iOS vs Android)

4G LTE (2009-2012 - LTE network)

• YouTube
• HD video
• Video calls
• Social media
• Streaming music
• Cloud storage
• Navigation
• Real-time multiplayer gaming
• 2009 - Push notifications
• 2010 - Samsung Galaxy S / FaceTime / Instagram
• 2011 - Siri / Galaxy Note
• 2012 - Maps
• 2013 - Touch ID
• 2014 - Apple Pay
• 2015 - Streaming / Messaging
• 2017 - Face ID

5G (2019 onwards - GSMA)

• 2019 - Galaxy Fold
• 2022 - eSim
• 2024 - AI